Officials of Foxwoods Philadelphia made their formal pitch to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board last month to move their casino project from the Market Street Mall, which is adjacent to the Chinatown neighborhood, three blocks away to a former department store.
Officials of the majority local investment group and the Mashantucket Pequot tribe, which will manage the casino as a 30 percent equity partner, submitted their plan to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board for a casino at 8th and Market streets in Philadelphia, in the former Strawbridge & Clothier department store building.
The new slot casino would have 3,000 machines and employ 450 people. Officials told the board it could begin construction almost immediately.
“We’re pleased to report that the critical elements are now in place to bring this project to fruition,” Brian Ford, CEO of local investment group Washington Philadelphia Investors, told the board.
“We look forward to developing detailed plans and coming back before this board to present them as part of our Ford added that the investor group, which owns 70 percent of the casino license, has a lease in place for the building and financing in place to complete the casino.
Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter issued a statement praising the new casino plan.
